Sheep farming is an ancient way of making money, but in this modern age, there are hardly any
shepherds seen guiding their herd of sheep around. Instead of relying on fresh grass grazing to
produce good quality wool and keep their sheep healthy, they choose to turn modern with time.
Sheep farmers these days use highly modern technology to take care of their sheep and
keep everything in order. All the work that was manually done in the past is now machine-operated.
But how do they do it? What type of machines do they use?
Don’t worry, we have done all the research for you and in today’s
video we are discussing the whole process of sheep farming. From breeding to livestock,
the journey of a sheep that helps feed and clothe the majority of the population today.
Sheep farming is particularly popular because sheep can be raised in many
climates, which has made it a good source of livelihood. But to make a business out of it,
the first important step is reproduction. Female sheep, also known as ewes, generally reach
their age of maturity after six to eight months of their birth while male sheep, also known as rams,
take four to six months to reach sexual maturity. Many farmers these days choose a rams to
impregnate a herd of sheep at once while others let the breeding take place naturally.
But letting it happen naturally may not be a good idea, because rams fight among themselves to
assert dominance and without human intervention, they can even kill each other in the process.
This is the main reason why the former method of choosing one rams for a herd is very popular.
But even so, the farmer can only hope that the rams had managed to do their job properly because
there are very few ways to determine pregnancy in sheep and so the farmers can only wait till the
sheep start to show some sign of being pregnant. Not to say there aren’t any methods,
farmers have gotten creative with their ways of determining the breeding process.
Some farmers put a special harness with crayon on the rams that leaves its imprint on the ewes fur
coat hence making it easy for the farmer to know. Whereas some avoid doing so in fear of affecting
the fur coat on the sheep, that’s equally valuable for the market.
As the lambing period approaches the female is seen to have a sullen appearance in
the hipbone area and becomes restless. Labour in sheep can last several hours.
While some breed can produce a litter of lambs most sheep give birth to one or two lambs at once.
Thereafter the nursing period of the lambs starts where they rely on their mother’s milk
to ensure a stabilized health for the newborn. Almost all the ewes nurse their lamb and those
who refuse, do it for their own state of health. In that case, the lamb is provided with
alternative feeding while the mother is taken care of. In cases where the lamb refuses to feed,
a tube is attached to their stomachs to force-feed them in order to save their life.
It is important that the sheep drinks lots of colostrums,
which is the first milk that comes from a mother’s body after birth; it contains protein, fat,
and antibodies that ensure the lamb’s good health. Once stabilized, the lambs are now ready to take
their markings, which include ear tagging, docking, castration, and vaccination.
When done at a young age the ear tagging produces little to no discomfort. The
sheep that are not intended to use for breeding go through castration.
In almost all breeds the tails are docked because it is said to be the
source of many diseases and so it is considered important in maintaining the health of sheep.
Lastly, they are vaccinated against any possible disease that could
affect them or the sheep around them. The lamb is first vaccinated after two
to four weeks of its birth and later another vaccination is provided after three months.
Vaccination is strongly recommended by doctors to prevent any internal disease in sheep.
Likewise, they are very much affected by external parasites, like maggots, sheep keds, lice,
and fleece that gather around their wool and eventually leads to death if left untreated.
One of the most common methods to prevent fleece-infested death is to shave the wool near
the sheep’s rump, aka its backside, it prevents their dump from being stuck in the wool and hence
successfully prevents any disease caused by it. This method is also popularly called Crutching.
Now moving on to their living conditions, sheep require a stable living condition regardless of
their climate. They need protection from every side, from wind and sun and possible predators.
In farms these days vast pans are separating a herd of sheep from another.
It gives a sense of order to the whole farming, where are more sheep than one can count.
A said number of sheep are placed in each pan and they feed and stay together in a flock.
It is important for the farmer to look at their sheep at least once a day to
make sure none of the sheep had fallen ill. Sheep don’t naturally show when they fall ill,
their natural instinct is made to hide their illness from the predator.
So no, your sheep won’t show that they are ill,
you’ll have to figure that out on your own, and once you do it is essential to quarantine them.
This is where the divider machine comes into the role, it is a heavy metal gate,
that opens from all sides, that allows you to separate your flock of sheep.
Farmers use this device to separate the pregnant sheep, male, female, lamb, and sick sheep from one
another. This is essential because disease spreads wide from one sheep to another.
Sheep hates being separated from their flocks so it’s easy if we kept the one
with similar issues together. Moving on to what they eat.
Fresh grass grazing was a reliable source of feeding the sheep in the past
but not now. One cannot even imagine managing such a large number of sheep simply by grazing.
There would be no grass left! Instead, farmers use hay,
corn, and supplements to feed their sheep. But imagine mixing that huge amount of hay and vitamin
supplements, sounds like an impossible task. This is where modern technology comes to play,
majority of farms, big and small, these days house a food mixing machine that mixes well
all the hay and supplements, it breaks down the hay and makes it easier for sheep to eat them.
A feeding alley that covers the entire pans in the farm is usually where sheep eat their food.
A similar alley is also made for water. This is typically how feeding takes place in the farms.
Speaking of water, it is very essential for the sheep to stay clean. It not only helps
prevent disease and parasites, but it also helps maintain the quality of their wool.
Farmers take the hygiene of their flocks very seriously, bathing them each day.
As far as hygiene goes, it is especially important to footbath the sheep every now and then. This is
where the farmer trims the overgrown hooves on the sheep’s foot that makes them lazy.
Now that you have a healthy herd of sheep, it’s time for sheep shearing.
Sheep that are not meant for slaughter are typically shorn for their wool.
The shearing takes place every once in a while when the wool is overgrown and ready to be shred.
Shearing can be done by either manual blade or machine shears, both are equally popular methods.
This process usually takes place in the Shearing Shed, which is a facility on the farm
specially designed to shear the sheep. Farmers usually hire shearers who are
highly skilled and patient, after all, it’s their livelihood at stake!
Some countries pay the sheep shearers by the number of sheep they have sheared not by the hour.
This is why many prioritize time and precision instead of caring for the animal.
The wool is then wrapped and goes into the wool bag later to be sold at a suitable price.
The sheep who are not kept for shearing suffer a different fate though. They are gathered and
shipped to the slaughterhouse where they become a source of food for the population.
These days’ farmers don’t get too much profit from just the wool,
so selling the sheep is important to make a livelihood and profit.
Not an easy job as it seems – but why should one do it?
Why are the farmers investing their time and money in farming these sheep?
One, it’s a multi-purpose business. Sheep are useful in many ways, they provide meat, milk,
and wool. All three combined are quite profitable. Second, is the low investment needed to start
sheep farming. The farm can be built with the basics of things without too much money spent.
Sheep can adjust to any environment and are easier to handle and they also grow at a fast rate.
Low labor cost, many of the farms are family business where family members are equal part
responsible, and even so, hiring some help doesn’t cost much in comparison to other business.
Lastly, there will be always a demand for sheep products on the market. Sheep meat
has demand for both local and export markets. They contribute to the local and national economy,
sheep are viewed as a part of the animal husbandry of the agriculture department.
Large-scale sheep farming provides employment in the rural section of the country.
It can be done by anyone who is looking to start a business, owns the land, or is unemployed
looking for a means to earn a livelihood. In short, it’s easy for anyone to get into this.
Once you start your business, you get approached by people who are interested
in doing business with you. It does not require much effort to market its products,
there will always be a demand for it. When you see it that way, it doesn’t seem too bad.
So, that was it, the whole process and making of the sheep farming.
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